A suggestion a day from the Williamsburg Regional Library

I Will Teach You to be Rich, by Ramit Sethi

I have read a lot of books about personal finance over the past few years. It’s a topic I felt I needed to learn more about, but I did this before the recent economic downturn. Last year I reviewed Ali Velshi’s book, Gimme My Money Back, which was written to address the causes of our financial collapse and as a basic primer for personal financial management. I Will Teach You to be Rich also covers the basics, but it is written for twenty- to thirty-somethings. It focuses on streamlining your finances using online tools, and maximizing your returns by choosing the best online banks, credit cards and low-cost investment vehicles. At the end of each chapter, the author lays out action steps that should take six weeks to follow. I think these are especially beneficial for young adults. Having a manageable plan makes it more likely that you can accomplish your goals. The last chapter focuses on major milestones like weddings, purchasing a home or car, and repaying student loans. I was surprised by some of the things that Sethi reveals, such as that the average wedding costs $28,000 or that buying a home rather than renting may not be the best choice.

I particularly like Sethi’s writing style. It’s no-nonsense and easy to understand. He uses examples of his own money strategies, as well as his friends’ choices, to illustrate money-management principles. I also like his fresh perspective. There are many books that talk about budgeting, which Sethi says doesn’t work. He suggests keeping necessary expenses at about 50%, investing 10% of your income, saving about 10% of your income, and the rest is fun money. Most budgets suggest only allocating 10% to “fun,” but Sethi is recommending up to 30%. He practices the “set it and forget it” approach; automatically invest and save your money, have bills paid automatically, and enjoy the rest. It’s a more hands-off approach to money management, but also more practical for a younger generation.

Overall, I think this is one of the best personal finance books for the novice that I’ve read. The only quibble I have is with the name, which is slightly misleading. This is not a “get rich quick” plan or scheme. This book provides solid advice for properly managing your money.